Chapter Text
“I brought alcohol.” Edward held up the paper bag when Gilda opened the back door. She gave him a wry smile.
“Thanks Eddie. Come on in. Harvey’s still at work.”
The Dents’ new house was welcomingly warm after the cold December air. The kitchen had coloured lights strung up along the edge of the ceiling. A small artificial pine with fake snow sat below the kitchen window, and the table was covered with a red and green plaid tablecloth. A few festive cookie tins were stacked on the counter.
“It looks nice in here,” Edward said. “I hope you’re not overextending yourself.”
“I need to distract myself.” Gilda took the bag from him and pulled out the rum. “Perfect.”
“I brought some eggnog for that,” he said as she unscrewed the bottle and poured a splash into a red and green striped mug.
“Next one.” Gilda drained her mug before getting a midnight blue mug covered in glittery snowflakes out of the cupboard for Eddie.
“Seriously though,” he said, taking her wrist gently as she reached into the cupboard for spices. “How are you feeling?”
“Terrified. Angry. Tired.” She rolled her eyes when he looked concerned. “Not because of the injuries. Those are healed, I’m fine, I just need the chair when I go out. I’m just… tired of Gotham. Tired of being scared that Harvey’s going to be killed. Scared that this city will finally break him.”
“If it makes you feel better, Holiday might fix all our problems before too long,” Edward said.
Gilda’s hand paused as she went to pour the eggnog. “I… I don’t know what to think about that, if I’m honest. I don’t want to talk to Harvey about it, but-”
“It could end up working in our favour.”
“Yes. And I don’t know if I want Harvey to say it, but I know I don’t want him to judge me for thinking it.”
“He underestimates you,” Eddie said. “I remember when I first met you, Harvey didn’t want me anywhere near you in case it put you in danger. But honestly, you can handle yourself better than I think he can sometimes.”
Gilda snorted. “Yeah. If only he knew how capable I am.”
“It’s okay to be scared though,” Edward said. “I think everyone in the city’s scared, especially now.”
“Does that everyone include you?”
He flushed red. “Well… Yes, sometimes. More so recently.”
“Oh?” She handed him a mug of spiked eggnog.
“I have people to be scared for now,” he said before taking a sip. The eggnog was wonderfully creamy and had just the right amount of cinnamon.
Gilda smiled. “Aw, Eddie. We’re scared for you too. Though how much of that is because of your own hijinks-”
“I haven’t done any jobs for a while now,” he admitted.
“Really?”
“Nothing big at least. I still steal money for food, and I’m not exactly paying for my current living arrangement, but-” he sighed. “I had all these plans before I met Harvey. Banks I wanted to break into, rich people whose jewels I wanted to steal. But then he just-”
“Was Harvey?” She gave him a knowing smile. “He tells you about how he needs to protect Gotham, how he needs to give it a better future, and you’d do anything just to be along for the ride?”
“Yeah. I-” Eddie laughed at himself. “I thought he was Batman for a bit there.”
She laughed. “Honestly, I did too at first. He’d been pulling a ton of late nights and there was suddenly this vigilante trying to clean up Gotham and I thought, ‘Harvey, what are you getting us into this time?’”
“What if he had been? Would you have stayed with him?”
“I don’t think there’s a force on Earth that could pull me away from Harvey. What about you? Where would you be if Harvey had turned out to be your worst enemy?”
“First of all, I am Batman’s worst enemy. He lives in dread of me. Secondly… I think I would still be here.” Edward felt a blush creep up his neck as Gilda stared at him in amazement. “I think… I understand Harvey Dent’s vision for Gotham. He sees the people behind the crimes, and understands who’s truly dangerous. Sometimes I think Batman forgets that Gotham screwed me over too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What for? You’ve never done anything to me.”
“I feel bad for you. I don’t pity you,” she said, noticing Eddie’s annoyance, “but I do wish things had been easier for you. I think that’s why you and Harvey get along so well. Gotham’s tried breaking both of you.”
Eddie took her hand. “I promise you: I will not let Gotham break Harvey.”
Gilda blinked back tears. “I know. And neither will I.”
They sat in silence for a minute, drinking their eggnog. Eddie took note of the dark circles under Gilda’s eyes and the way she kept glancing nervously at the door, waiting for Harvey to come home. He gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Do you want me to stay tonight?”
“Do you want to stay? Where are you staying anyway? You said you’re not paying for it, but you can alway crash here if you need-”
“Somewhere I can work,” Edward said. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can. I just want you to know that our door is always open if you need a home instead of just a roof over your head.”
“Thanks. You never answered my question. Do you want me to stay here tonight? Keep an eye out? Beat away any potential intruders?”
Gilda smiled. “No. Harvey’s taking me out tonight. He said he has a surprise for me.”
Edward’s stomach turned. “Oh? That’s fun.”
“He sounded so excited about it. It was so cute.”
Edward made a vague noise of agreement.
The front door opened.
“Babe?” Harvey’s voice called.
Gilda’s face lit up. “We’re in the kitchen!”
“We?” Harvey walked in, unfurling his scarf and smiling when he saw Eddie. “Hi. I wasn’t expecting-”
“I wanted to check on Gilda.”
“Of course. Can I talk to you in private for a minute?”
Gilda rolled her eyes but left the room. Harvey took her seat. “Who’s Holiday?”
Edward raised an eyebrow. “You think I know?”
“Come on, Eddie, you know everything.”
His ears darkened. “Yes, well there are limits to even my knowledge.”
“Damn. I was hoping the underground might know.”
Edward shook his head. “If anyone does, they’re keeping their mouth shut. For now it’s a mystery. A riddle, if you will.”
Harvey smiled. “I’ll allow it. Can you look into it for me though?”
“Of course.” Anything for you. “Are we pro or against Holiday?”
He sighed. “We have to be against. He’s killing people. Not innocents, but that kind of vigilantism can’t be allowed.”
“Unlike a violent man in a batsuit?”
A wry smile from Harvey. “Necessary evils.”
“And me? Am I a necessary evil?” Edward asked.
“You’re a surprisingly welcome morally gray friend.”
He grinned. “I’ll take it.”